Tag: sea lions

‘Intense’ moments as orcas attack sea lions next to small boat

Capt. Delaney Trowbridge said afterward that it was “likely the closest I’ll ever feel to being ‘hunted’ by an orca myself.”

Of the many orca encounters enjoyed by boaters off Southern California last week, perhaps the most thrilling spectacle involved killer whales hunting sea lions next to a small boat.

The accompanying footage, shared Sunday by Capt. Delaney Trowbridge of Pacific Offshore Expeditions, shows transient orcas methodically attacking sea lions that attempted to use her boat as cover.

While viewers don’t witness a kill, Trowbridge assured in her Instagram description, “The orcas were successful in their hunt.”

Her footage, captured near Anacapa Island off Ventura County, shows the agile orcas repeatedly passing and swiping at sea lions with their flukes, at times spraying passengers.

Trowbridge described the stirring exhibition:

“One of the most exhilarating encounters I’ve ever had happened just the other day, when a desperate pair of sea lions tried using our boat to shelter themselves from a hungry pod of killer whales (CA140Bs). One of the most amazing things about orcas is their unparalleled problem-solving skills that make them such effective predators.

“The whales made sure to capitalize on every opportunity [when] the sea lions strayed too far from their cover, slowly whittling down their prey. It was incredibly intense to be in the middle of this deadly game of cat and mouse; likely the closest I’ll ever feel to being ‘hunted’ by an orca myself.”

Transient killer whales are more commonly spotted off Central California and points north. Encounters off Southern California are rare.

The encounter with the transient pod occurred just after Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales, infrequent visitors from Mexico, had spent days hunting dolphins between San Diego and Los Angeles.

–Top image, captured by Delaney Trowbridge, shows transient orcas beneath the surface near Anacapa Island

Sea lions exhibit remarkable prowess while surfing giant waves

Extraordinary footage shows sea lions surfing massive waves at a remote California island in 2021.

A marine-themed Instagram page on Sunday shared footage of California sea lions surfing massive waves in a striking exhibition of power and agility.

Seven Seas Explorer credited Pacific Offshore Expeditions but provided no further details.

We recall the scene vividly because Ryan Lawler of Pacific Offshore Expeditions shared the same footage with For The Win Outdoors hours after the January 2021 encounter. (See both clips posted below.)

Lawler and a documentary crew stumbled upon the surfing pinnipeds at Santa Barbara Island west of Los Angeles.

“As we rounded the southern portion of the island, which has an islet called Sutil Island, we noticed sea lions flying out of the back of the waves. It was an awesome moment,” Lawler said.

“I had never seen that before at this island, which is well known for its sea lions.”

As viewers can see, the sea lions exhibit remarkable prowess on waves generated by a powerful storm to the north.

The footage was captured via high-speed photography, too fast to record sound. But Lawler shared the the same clip to Facebook,  playing to the famous Surfaris tune, “Wipeout.”

That footage is posted above.

Orca ‘punts’ sea lion 20 feet into air as boaters watch in awe

Whale Watchers in California’s Monterey Bay spent Thanksgiving Day watching orcas showing a new pod member how to hunt sea lions.

Whale Watchers in California’s Monterey Bay spent part of Thanksgiving Day watching orcas showing a new pod member how to hunt sea lions.

One of the behaviors involved “punting” a sea lion “almost 20 feet in the air,” according to Monterey Bay Whale Watch.

The company explained via social media:

“Based on the behavior observed, this was clearly a training session for the new calf in the pod that is only several months old!

“Once they successfully killed a sea lion, the members of the pod took turns displaying attack maneuvers and behaviors to further instruct their newest pod member on how to hunt.”

The four orcas, or killer whales, belong to a family scientifically cataloged as the CA51As.

Striking images captured by Morgan Quimby show them participating in the hunt and the sea lion sailing through the air. (Click here to watch a harbor seal being punted 70 feet high.)

Monterey Bay Whale Watch added: “While it is hard to watch them hunt in this way, it is important to the survival of the pod. We got some amazing looks at this notoriously friendly pod as they practiced hunting techniques on the sea lion and slowed down towards the end of the encounter making close passes to the boat before prey sharing with one another.”

New orca calf participating in the hunt. Photo: ©Morgan Quimby Photography

The CA51As are transient killer whales, which prey almost exclusively on other marine mammals, including dolphins and baby gray whales.

Leading the hunt was the matriarch, CA51A, nicknamed Aurora. She’s the daughter of CA51, who was not present during the encounter.

Reward offered after video shows boater speeding over sea lions

A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered in the hope of identifying and prosecuting a boater who was caught on video speeding over sea lions earlier this month in the Columbia River.

A $20,000 reward is being offered as federal authorities seek to identify and prosecute a boater who was caught on video speeding over sea lions earlier this month in the Columbia River.

NOAA launched an investigation after the footage, captured April 3 by a Portland resident, began to circulate via social media. (The footage is posted below.)

It shows the boater plowing over groups of sea lions, in apparent violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as the animals rested on the surface near Hayden Island.

Oregon Live reported Friday that NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is offering the reward for information that leads to a “civic penalty or criminal conviction.”

The Marine Mammal Protection Act, passed in 1972, prohibits the hunting or harassment of marine mammals. Harassment is any act that significantly alters the mammals’ behavior.

The number of California sea lions – the same animals that inhabit the Columbia River – has increased steadily since the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Recent estimates place the West Coast population at about 280,000.

Fishermen often express frustration regarding sea lions, which possess a seemingly insatiable appetite for salmon and other fishes. But blatant acts of aggression toward sea lions rarely occur in open public settings.

According to Oregon Live, the vessel in question is an aluminum Hewescraft Pro-V Sea Runner with a dark blue stripe, measuring perhaps 20 feet.

Authorities are asking anyone who might recognize the boat or be able to identify the boater reach out to NOAA at 360-310-0259, or via its hotline at 800-853-1964.

Fishing boat speeds over sea lions in ‘terrible’ scene caught on video

Video footage has surfaced showing a fishing boat speeding across the Columbia River and running over sea lions in clear violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Video footage has surfaced showing a fishing boat speeding across the Columbia River and running over sea lions in clear violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The footage, captured Monday by a Portland resident, has prompted an investigation by county and federal authorities.

In the footage, the vessel is shown veering toward and over several groups of sea lions as they rest on an otherwise calm surface off Hayden Island.

“Whoever was driving it, they went right through the pack of the first one and it was kind of [like he] was trying to hit every pack and I just looked around me and everybody was devastated,” Michael Brady, who captured the footage, told KGW.

It was not clear if any animals were injured.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act, passed in 1972, prohibits the hunting or harassment of marine mammals, or approaching them too closely. Harassment can be defined as any act that alters the mammals’ behavior.

ALSO: False killer whales devour marlin in dramatic scene captured on video

The footage might also help to illustrate the frustration fishermen experience regarding mammals that are voracious competitors capable of decimating large schools of fish in short order.

“It was inappropriate for sure. But it really is a product of the frustration over the dramatic declines of salmon in the Pacific Northwest in recent years,” Bob Rees, a fishing guide and the executive director of the Northwest Guides and Anglers Association, told the Oregonian. “We don’t have the fishing opportunities that we’ve historically had.”

Said Brady: “I understand the frustration. I understand this year is tough on salmon. But I think this was a sport fisherman who had a little chip on his shoulder and it was terrible to witness as a community here.”

The number of California sea lions – the same animals that inhabit the Columbia River basin – has increased steadily since the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Latest estimates place the West Coast population at about 280,000 animals.

Lifeguard has pointed response to girl harassing sea lion; video

A young girl was caught on video tossing rocks and sand at a California sea lion last week in violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

A young girl was caught on video tossing rocks and sand at a California sea lion last week in violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In the footage, captured Feb. 26 at San Diego’s La Jolla Cove, the girl is harassing the sea lion as it tries to rest on the beach.

The girl’s mother or guardian does not intervene until the lifeguard’s rebuke is heard over the loudspeakers: “Little girl in purple, you can leave now, thanks.” (Click here to view the TikTok video.)

TikTok user @raspberryblush_, who captured the footage, is quoted by CBS 8 as saying the girl “had thrown rocks/sand like two more times before this announcement.”

While the girl meant no harm, she was interrupting a wild animal trying to rest in its natural environment. Other tourists seen next to the mammal also violated federal distance guidelines.

©Pete Thomas

Sadly, harassment of sea lions at La Jolla Cove is fairly routine because of the mammals’ close proximity to tourists. (I live nearby and captured the  images in the body of this post.)

ALSO: Poachers caught with bald eagle they had shot, intended to eat

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act, people are asked not to approach within 50 yards of seals and sea lions, but that happens almost daily.

Harassment, which is against the law, is an action that alter’s a mammal’s behavior. Tossing objects at an animal is one such action.

©Pete Thomas

La Jolla Cove receives so many visits by tourists that enforcement of the MMPA, which is not a task for lifeguards, would be impossible short of erecting barriers to keep people off the the rocks and beaches.

Fortunately, the sea lions at La Jolla Cove and harbor seals at nearby Children’s Pool have grown accustomed to the presence of humans. But they should still be regarded as dangerous, unpredictable animals.

Golf courses, sea lions, and bears — oh my! See these two animals that snuck onto golf courses.

It’s normal to see Tiger golfing, but what about bears and sea lions?

It’s normal to see Tiger golfing, but what about bears and sea lions? This week brought news of both these animals showing up on golf courses. Golfers spotted the bear on a course in Mammoth Lakes, CA, while the sea lion appeared on Omni La Costa Golf Course in San Diego. In videos posted to Twitter and TikTok, the animals seem calm despite the odd environment. One video even shows a golfer continuing to take his shot despite the bear behind him. As for the sea lion, SeaWorld rescue workers arrived to help bring the animal back to the ocean.

Referred to as a seal in the initial tweet, the animal in the video is actually a sea lion, according to many commenters. As Tracy Spahr, a publicist for SeaWorld, explained, the female sea lion is also pregnant. 

“The team was able to safely get her on the rescue truck and transport her to the Carlsbad State beach to relocate and return her back to the ocean,” Spahr told NBC 7. “She looked in good health, and, due to her pregnancy, the ocean is the best location for her to be and give birth when she is ready.”

As of now, there is no further available information on the bear.

Sea lions devouring sharks – even large sharks – captured in photos

A California ecotour captain reminded social media followers Thursday that sea lions will prey on sharks and are not shy about going after large sharks.

A California ecotour captain reminded social media followers Thursday that sea lions will prey on sharks and are not shy about going after reasonably large sharks.

“I’ve seen sea lions eat a lot of different things, but these two sharks take the cake for most interesting meal caught on my camera,” Ryan Lawler, of Newport Coastal Adventure, stated on Instagram.

“The first picture shows a horn shark, with its conspicuous dorsal spine going ignored by the sea lion. The second photo is right after a bull sea lion caught a thresher shark whose total length is easily longer than its predator.” (Viewers can swipe on the Instagram post to view both images.)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ryan L (@lawofthelandnsea)

Lawler mentions a period in October 2015, when his passengers and crew witnessed multiple predation events involving sea lions and thresher sharks off Newport Beach.

ALSO: Large bear executes perfect takedown in clash with rival; video

“And I have not seen it again since,” he wrote, explaining to FTW Outdoors that the Instagram photos are from 2017 (horn shark) and 2015. “Still waiting to witness the ultimate sea lion/shark take down, which would be a sea lion catching a white shark pup.”

Slater Moore Photography

In 2015, one of those predation events was captured in photos by Slater Moore, at the time a photographer for Davey’s Locker Sportfishing and Whale Watching in Newport Beach. (Two of Moore’s images accompany this post.)

After the encounter, Moore said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. We pulled up to a huge bird school with a sea lion finishing off the tail end of a thresher, and he drug it under and the we spun the boat around and all the birds were flying over to another sea lion with a brand new thresher, still alive.

“Then we leave and go to another live thresher under attack, and as we were leaving the captain saw another sea lion pop up with one!”

Slater Moore Photography

The largest shark measured at least 4 feet – a substantial meal for any pinniped.

Thresher sharks measure to about 15 feet. They boast small mouths and feed mainly on schooling bait fish, which they stun with scythe-like tail fins.

California sea lions, which can measure 8 feet and weigh as much as 800 pounds, are opportunistic feeders that prey predominantly on smaller fish and mollusks, but occasionally target sharks and rays.

Lawler alluded to great white shark pups. Southern California coastal waters are a nursing area for juvenile white sharks, which prey mostly on rays and bottom fishes. As adults, they prey on seals and sea lions.

Surreal footage shows sea lions on dock practicing high dives

A California whale-watching company has captured surreal footage showing sea lions diving from perches high upon a dock.

A California whale-watching company has captured surreal footage showing sea lions diving from perches high upon a wooden dock.

“It happens every so often if the timing is right when we’re passing by them on the boat,” Kate Cummings, owner of Blue Ocean Whale Watch in Moss Landing, told FTW Outdoors. “It’s always a crowd-pleaser with lots of cheering. I always stop the boat if it looks like one is thinking of jumping off.”

The accompanying slow-motion footage is somewhat bizarre because of muffled cheers from the boat and bellows from other sea lions gathered in the foreground, as if comprising an audience.

Cummings’ video provides what appears to be an example of playful  behavior and is reminiscent of extraordinary footage shared by FTW Outdoors in 2021, showing sea lions riding and leaping through massive waves near Santa Barbara Island.

That footage, captured by a documentary crew with Pacific Offshore Expeditions out of Newport Beach, is posted below.

Ryan Lawler, owner of Pacific Offshore Expeditions, described what he had witnessed as “an awesome moment.”

Lawler added: “I had never seen that before at this island, which is well known for its sea lions. So we stayed there for 20 minutes, observing and waiting for the sun to break up the fog. Then we dove [at another location] for about 90 minutes and came back, but all the sea lions had disappeared.”